The design, synthesis, and evaluation of a liposaccharide (11) for use as an agent to enhance the gastrointestinal absorption of charged, hydrophilic drugs with poor membrane permeability is reported. 11 was designed to possess both surfactant and ion-pairing properties and was conveniently synthesized from d-glucuronic acid (2) and N-Boc- lipoamino acid (5) precursors in eight steps in good yield. Isothermal titration ...